The Code of Conduct

At Standards for England, we provide advice and guidance to authorities on the Code of Conduct. Every authority is required to adopt the Code, which sets out rules governing the behaviour of an authority’s members.

Each authority's Code must include the provisions of the Model Code of Conduct approved by Parliament. The government issued the current Model Code of Conduct for members on 4 April 2007.

Authorities can choose to add their own local rules to the Model Code if they wish, although most adopt the Model Code as it is.

The Code covers all elected, co-opted and independent members of local authorities, including parish councils, fire, police and national park authorities.